Longque Saber

Drawing on the standardized form and structure of Qing dynasty waist sabers, the work blends imperial court aesthetics, traditional forging wisdom, and modern manufacturing techniques, transforming a once-formidable cold weapon into a tangible and experiential contemporary cultural artifact.
The design draws inspiration from treasures in the Palace Museum collection and incorporates the cultural totem of the “Longque saber” recorded in the Book of Jin, expressing the Chinese aesthetics of the unity of etiquette and martial arts. The blade is made from steel using ancient forging techniques. Through repeated folding and hammering, it features layered patterns. The delicate flowing patterns, reminiscent of feathers, reveal varying light and dark contrasts across the steel surface under changing light. Crafted from deep brown hardwood, the scabbard is adorned with three white dragon motifs using the traditional gold-and-silver inlay technique. Arranged in sequence along the natural curve of the scabbard, the motifs help create a solemn and understated look. The grip is wrapped in imitation shagreen and paired with a braided cord, faithfully recreating the typical grip structure of Qing dynasty waist sabers. This design preserves a sense of historical ritual while ensuring ergonomic comfort in practical use. Crafted from silver-plated copper, the fittings are ornamented with openwork auspicious cloud patterns, carrying symbolic meanings of luckiness while softening the visual weight of the dragon motifs, enhancing overall visual balance.
In terms of craftsmanship, the steel blade is forged using ancient forging techniques and modern temperature control technology. This creates natural patterns with layered depth and flowing lines while also delivering toughness beyond ordinary steel. A clay-tempering process is also applied. By varying the thickness of the clay coating, the cooling rate during quenching is precisely controlled across different parts of the saber. This process allows the edge to achieve high hardness and the body to retain excellent toughness, striking a balance between hardness and toughness and reflecting traditional forging wisdom.